Travel Meeting Weekend!!

We just got back today from our China Travel meeting in Birmingham.  What an exciting time!! It was SO GREAT to see our social worker Karla again...and wow..there were a ton of families who are adopting right now.  We were so surprised.  It is so much different that it was six years ago for us. There were just a hand full of us back then.  What a blessing to see there are so many more families who have stepped up, answered the call and said yes to adoption! What a blessing!!

So...here is what we found out at our travel meeting!

PROCESS STILL TO GO: HOW MUCH MORE TIME?!?
- Once we get our LOA (we are on day 50 of a 60-90 day average wait) We will submit our 800 Provisional paperwork.  We will then get a receipt of our actual 800 approval. This will take approximately 2 weeks.

- After we receive our provisional approval we will then wait for our cable letter from the NVC (National Visa Center).

- Once we receive our cable letter then Lifeline will submit our Article 5 letter to the US Consulate.  The takes approximately 2 more weeks.

- After our Article 5 letter is picked up, the CCAA (Chinese Center of Adoption Affairs) wll initiate our TA (Travel Approval process) Our TA should arrive 3-4 weeks after our Article 5 letter arrives at CCAA.

- Once we have TA (Travel Approval) it will take approximately 2 business days to get a confirmed CA (Consulate appointment)

- Once we have our CA we will likely travel 10-14 days after it is scheduled.

So what does this all mean?!?! WELL....If we get our LOA right at the 60 day mark (which you NEVER KNOW...it could go a lot longer! It did with Sadie) Anyway...lets just look at it from our day 60 wait for LOA.

Let's just say February 19th is our day 60.  
Add 2 weeks for 800 approval
2 more weeks for Article 5 
3- 4 weeks for Article 5 to arrive at CCAA
2 more days for Confirmed CA
And 2 more weeks to leave.  
That leaves us POTENTIALLY leaving by April 30th.  

OBVIOUSLY these are just average waits with NO delays...and probably best case scenario situations.  But...it gives you sort of what we're looking at regarding travel!!! It will generally be around that time frame.

Lots of info...but we want you guys to be praying for us as we are still waiting!!!

GIFTS FOR GUIDES:
We have to purchase and bring with us approximately 10-12 gifts in the $5 - $10 range for our guides.  These gifts have to be made in America or something specific to our state or area.  If you have any cool ideas...send them our way!!

We also have to purchase our orphanage director and child's orphanage care giver a little nicer gift.  Would love suggestions or thoughts on this as well!!! We need to keep the cost as low as possible...but still let them be nice and thoughtful gifts!! :)

PRESCRIPTIONS NEEDED:
We just found out that the orphanage Shepard is from has Scabies pretty badly.  :( So sad.  We are praying for our little fellow that when he goes there from his foster home that he doesn't get them.  But...we were told we need to bring a prescription for Scabies just in case.  We are grateful we have friends that are doctors and can get us these prescriptions!! We were told now that Walmart has gotten to China...we can purchase most anything we need there...but they don't recommend us purchase medicine there. So we will need to take every kind of meds we can think of with us...so we'll be prepared.  Praying for the orphanage there that some how they will be able to eliminate that issue.

There was SO MUCH INFORMATION covered at our travel meeting.  It would probably bore you if I went into it all.

PRAYER NEEDS:
Please continue to pray for
-  Shepard as his little world is getting ready to be turned upside down.
-  For the rest of the finances to come in so we can take this trip without going into debt.
-  For our faith to stay strong and not waiver in all the "unknown" places we are walking right now.  HE is our Rock and our Fortress.  Pray that we will remember HE is where our strength comes from.

We are SO GRATEFUL for each and everyone of you!!! THANK YOU for following our blog, for praying for us, for encouraging us and for being our friends!!! You are a blessing!!! We promise to keep you posted!
Blessings,
Mark & Buffi
p.s. We are creating an email distribution list to let everyone know when our blog has been updated...Social Media Sites are blocked in China.  If you don't want to sign up to receive our blog updates in your email inbox (you can do so at the top right of  our blog) Send us your email address if you haven't already done so and we'll add your email address to our distribution list.  We want to keep everyone informed!!! Thanks again for the prayers!! Blessings!